Effect of Sowing Times and Nitrogen Application on the Growth and Production of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Effect of Sowing Times and Nitrogen Application on the Growth and Production of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Junaid Irfan1, Masood Ahmad1*, Sumbal Ayaz1, Sultan Akbar Jadoon2, Khwaja Junaid3, Muhammad Reshteen Khattak1, Ateeq Ur Rehman1, Sheraz Ahmad1 and Hamza Ali1
ABSTRACT
An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of sowing times and nitrogen applications on the growth and production of fennel at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. Experiment was laid out as Randomized Complete Block Design in split plots arrangement with two factors. Factor “A” was comprised of sowing times i.e. Autumn and Spring season while Factor “B” was nitrogen levels i.e. 0, 30, 40, 50 and 60 kg ha-1. Fennel sown in autumn season (25th October) resulted in early germination (19.13), maximum plant height (146.07 cm), maximum days to 1st umbel appearance (132.27) and last umbel appearance (147.87), number of umbels plant-1 (42.51), days to 1st umbel maturity (86.67), last umbel maturity (117.67) and seed yield (4590.79 kg ha-1). While, fennel seeds sown on 25th February (spring) resulted in maximum days to germination (21.86), minimum plant height (96.67 cm), least days to 1st umbel appearance (83.33), last umbel appearance (95.87), minimum number of umbels plant-1 (32.53), least days to 1st umbel maturity (38.73), last umbel maturity (58.73) and least seed yield (3540.71 kg ha-1). Among nitrogen levels, nitrogen applied at 60 kg ha-1 resulted in maximum plant height (134.83 cm), least days to 1st umbel appearance (104.50), more number of umbels plant‑1 (44.85), seed yield (4684.37 kg ha-1) that was statistically at par with application of nitrogen at 40 and 50 kg ha-1. It can be concluded that autumn sown crop was superior as compared to spring crop for better production of fennel, while nitrogen at 40 kg ha-1 could be recommended for better growth and seed production of fennel.
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